The Emperor of Portugalia eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 229 pages of information about The Emperor of Portugalia.

The Emperor of Portugalia eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 229 pages of information about The Emperor of Portugalia.

“No, it was not impossible,” said Katrina, “but since the girl has neither come herself nor written it’s plain she has failed.”

Every one in the hut grew more anxious and apprehensive for every moment that passed.  They all felt that some dire misfortune would soon fall upon those who lived there.  When the tension was becoming unbearable the door opened once more and a man who was seldom seen in the Ashdales came in.

The instant this man entered it became as still in the hut as on a winter night in the forest, and every one’s eyes save Jan’s alone turned toward him.  Jan did not stir, although Katrina whispered to him that Senator Carl Carlson of Storvik had just come in.

The senator held in his hand a roll of papers and every one took for granted that he had been sent here by the new owner of Falla, to notify the Ruffluck folk of what must befall them, now that they could not meet Lars Gunnarson’s claim.

Carl Carlson wore his usual magisterial mien and no one could guess how heavily the blow he had come to deal would fall.  He went up and shook hands, first with Katrina, then with the others, and each one in turn rose as he came to them; the only one who did not rise was Jan.

“I am not very well acquainted in this district,” said the senator, “but I gather that this must be the place in the Ashdales that is called Ruffluck Croft.”

It was of course.  Every one nodded in the affirmative, but no one was able to utter an audible word.  They wondered that Katrina had the presence of mind to nudge Boerje, and make him get up and give his chair to the senator.

After drawing the chair up to the table the senator laid the roll of papers down, then he took out his snuff box and placed it beside the papers, whereupon he removed his spectacles from their case and wiped them with his big blue-and-white checkered handkerchief.  After these preliminaries he glanced round the room, looking from one person to the other.  Those who sat there were persons of such little importance he did not even know them by name.

“I wish to speak with Jan Anderson of Ruffluck,” he said.

“That’s him over there,” volunteered the seine-maker, pointing at the bed.

“Is he sick?” inquired the senator.

“Oh, no!  Oh, no!” replied half a dozen at the same time.

“And he isn’t drunk, either,” added Boerje.

“Nor is he asleep,” said the seine-maker.

“He has walked so far to-day he’s all tired out,” said Katrina, thinking it best to explain the matter in that way.  At the same time she bent down over her husband and tried to persuade him to rise.

But Jan lay still.

“Does he understand what I’m saying?” asked the senator.

“Yes indeed,” they all assured him.

“Perhaps he’s not expecting any glad tidings, seeing it’s Senator Carl Carlson who is paying him a call.”  This from the seine-maker.

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The Emperor of Portugalia from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.